The Big River Coalition’s Corps 2022/2023 Revetment Schedule and Transit Restrictions Update 2323 is here for your reference.
The updated schedule of work as provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on February 2, 2023 is here and the U.S. Coast Guard’s Marine Information Safety Bulletin is here.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continues revetment operations at the White Castle #3 location (Mile 192.7 AHP).
The recent fog has delayed vessel traffic and USACE revetment operations the new schedule for revetment operations is listed in the table below.
Multiple deep-draft vessels delayed by the impact of both the daylight channel closures and repeated periods of reduced visibility (fog delays) were moved through on the evening of Wednesday,
February 1, 2023. This was accomplished with a coordinated movement to have the vessels underway before sunset to arrive the White Castle location after the mat sinking unit was folded in and before sunset. This coordinated movement was conducted with the support of the USACE, NOBRA Pilots, U.S Coast Guard and navigation industry representatives. Agents of delayed vessels are encouraged to reach out to their trade association representatives note the work at White Castle will continue for two more weeks.
The USACE commenced work at the White Castle #3 location on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 the Ship Channel will remains closed to deep-draft vessels (ships) as detailed below with the no transit restriction in place during working hours (0600 hours to 1900 hours daily) until completion.
The adjusted schedule of work and the specifics for the last no work weekend (table):
2022/2023 USACE Revetment Schedule and Restrictions
Locations Below Baton
| Locations | Mile AHP
(Right or Left) |
2023 Scheduled Dates | Transit Restrictions |
| White Castle #2 | 193.4 RDB | February 7 to February 10
February 13 to February 18 |
No deep-draft transits during working hours. MSU will fold in at night. |
| White Castle #3 | 192.7 RDB | ONGOING
January 30 to February 7 |
No deep-draft transits during working hours. MSU will fold in at night. |
Next weekend, Saturday, February 11 and Sunday, February 12 is a scheduled no work weekend for revetment operations, mat sinking operations are expected to complete about midday on Friday, February 10. The USCG is expected to open the river with no transit restrictions through the White Castle location once the mat sinking unit is folded on Friday (February 10) with the no transit restriction set to resume as scheduled at 0600 hours on Monday, February 13 (2023).
The New Orleans Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association (NOBRA) enforce a daylight only transit restriction for vessels with a draft of 41 feet or greater when transiting above Mile 220 AHP.
The NOBRA Pilots will move restricted vessels (drafts 41 or greater) transiting above Mile 220 AHP with two Pilots on Board while revetment operations are ongoing at the two remaining White Castle sites.
The two pilot adjustment will allow restricted vessels to transit at night in adjustment to the NOBRA restriction listed below:
“Above LMR MM 220, regardless of the river stage, all vessels drafting 41’ or greater are restricted to
daylight only.
Vessels must get underway 3 hours prior to the official sunset time.
Exceptions will be made for shifts from berths to/from the Middle Baton Rouge anchorage.”
The USACE has already completed revetment operations at the five locations listed below:
- White Castle #1 Mile 193.6 AHP (RDB)
- Kenner Bend Mile 111.3 AHP (LDB)
- Linwood Mile 70.7 AHP (RDB)
- Reserve Mile 138.7 AHP (RDB)
- Greenville Bend Mile 99.8 AHP (RDB)
